5 New Venues in Washington, D.C., for Fall 2024 Meetings and Events

This fall, Grand Hyatt Washington unveiled a $23 million renovation of its 897 guest rooms and guest room corridors, and it also expanded its Grand Club lounge. The rooms have been infused with a cleaner, more sophisticated design and a new color palette that nods to D.C.’s famous cherry blossoms and the Potomac River. This prime meetings property is centrally located near the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and CityCenterDC. It offers more than 43,000 square feet of function space and 3,000 square feet of prefunction space, including its iconic Grand Foyer (pictured) set against the hotel's lobby feature wall that opens into the atrium.

Revitalized waterfront property Salamander DC welcomed a new dining venue in September. Dōgon by Kwame Onwuachi marks the celebrated chef's return to the city. His new concept is inspired by D.C. surveyor Benjamin Banneker and his heritage to the West African Dogon tribe. Expect an Afro-Caribbean menu drawing from Onwuachi's Nigerian, Jamaican, Trinidadian, and Creole background. The design of the space, by architecture firm Modellus Novus, features many nods to Banneker, including the metal chain curtains that greet guests at the entrance, referencing the Gunter's chains that Banneker used to measure and survey. The rest of the space is meant to evoke the various hues of the night sky as a way to celebrate the Dogon people's lineage of astral observers. The 140-seat restaurant also features an expansive open kitchen, a lounge that can seat 30, a bar, and a private dining room for 14.

This past spring, One Washington Circle Hotel rebranded to Hotel AKA Washington Circle. The 151-room boutique property, located in the Foggy Bottom/West End neighborhood, features updated guest rooms, suites, and a new restaurant from James Beard Award winner Ellen Yin. Planners can make use of an executive conference room and a private cinema for smaller groups or client meetings. Other amenities include a state-of-the-art fitness center and a landscaped terrace. Yin's on-site a.kitchen+bar features a hyperseasonal menu of American-inspired small plates by executive chef Eli Collins.

This September, D.C. welcomed a new innovative educational experience celebrating the White House. Located at 1700 Pennsylvania Ave., The People's House: A White House Experience is the second-best way to let groups experience the nation's most renowned house. The 33,000-square-foot experience uses Panasonic projection and display technology to guide and immerse visitors through exhibits and galleries dedicated to White House history. Standout features include a large-scale White House model, a full-scale replica of the Oval Office (pictured), and recreations of key White House moments. Inquire within for group outings or private events.

In October, Hilton Garden Inn Bethesda Downtown completed a $4 million transformation of its lobby, meeting and event spaces, bar and lounge, restaurant, and fitness center. Expect new details like more communal seating configurations in the lobby, an emphasis on natural light, and keyless locks for the 216 guest rooms. The refreshed meeting space, which spans 1,662 square feet, features four event rooms, projectors, presentation screens, and audiovisual equipment. The event space can accommodate 100 attendees. The hotel is located within walking distance of trendy shops and restaurants, just one block from the Bethesda Metro Station, 6 miles from historic Georgetown, and 7 miles from downtown D.C.